Dark Judgement 24

Dark Judgement

Part 24 - The Consequences of Underestimating the Enemy

Posted: September 26, 2008

*****

“My Lord,” Telemnar, one of the staff said to me. “Erestor has hurt two, possibly three, members of staff.”

I was having a relaxing early evening read, of a book entitled, ’The Misery of the Elves: Fëanor and Melkor’s Legacy Combined,” a rather amusing study, which caused me to chuckle several times. I positively laughed out loud when the author described the privations of the elves who crossed the Helcaraxë. I reread that part twice and it did not diminish in comedic value. I am wondering if I should ever give this book back to Elrond. I wonder if all the books in his library are this amusing.

“Did four of you go into the room as I ordered?”

“Yes, My Lord. Erestor sprang for the two elves in front of us. He hooked his thumbs into Súrion’s eye sockets and kicked Nénharma’s ribs so badly that he is coughing up blood. Lissësúl and I jumped on him and I am afraid that we have injured him somewhat, but he would not let go of Súrion.”

“How badly is he injured?” I asked; I noticed that Telemnar was shaking slightly. I like to think that he was nervous in my presence, because normally he is; however I suspect that Erestor fighting back had badly shaken him. It never does to become complacent.

“We may have broken his arm, and a couple of his ribs, and given him a black eye,” Telemnar said nervously.

“Was there any other way of restraining him?”

“No, My Lord.” Telemnar seemed even more nervous; however, I am used to my staff shaking when they give me bad news.

Time to show him what an understanding employer I am; not that Manwë would allow me to get away with anything less. “I would say that Erestor deserved it. I do not agree that a patient here should ever be hurt, but sometimes it is unavoidable.” I said that just in case Telemnar thought that he could get away with it again. I did not mean a word of it though; torture is my domain, not theirs.

“Thank you, My Lord,” Telemnar said, looking relieved. Like all my staff he remembered me of old but had not needed any help adjusting to life in Valinor. None of them had ever been guests of mine on Middle-earth and they knew me by reputation only. He was right to fear me, as they all were, and yet I had never harmed them, not even once. Such is the nature of presence, and I have it.

“Let us go and see Súrion first,” I said as I rose from my chair.

I put the book in my pocket because I did not want Maglor reading it and asking me deep fëa searching questions, when we could be indulging our bodies instead. My only one does tend to consider himself somewhat of a constructive critic when reviewing books on elven history.

We walked along to the clinic wing. Súrion lay on a bed holding his hands up to his face and howling for all he was worth. I am never happier than when I am seeing an elf in agony; however, now was not the time to indulge myself.

“Let me see your face,” I said to Súrion who yelled that it hurt too much to take his hands away. “You two,” I motioned to the healer and Telemnar. “Take his hands.”

Súrion resisted; but his hands were removed from his face and held down by his side. Both his eyes were shut, crusted with dried blood in places and with streams of fresh blood leaking from the corners; they were also gratifyingly swollen. I looked at them and thought that Maglor would be having a particularly enjoyable time in bed with me tonight, as I found the sight most invigorating. I would hold onto the memory of Súrion’s face as I let Maglor pound into me; something he would enjoy as he doesn’t get to do it very often and because I feel like showing him how much I adore him.

I waved my hand over Súrion’s mutilated eyes and they healed. Elrond is convinced that he is the best healer in Valinor but my skills leave him looking like an anxious elfling who cannot find the starting line in an egg and spoon race. He is one of the elves that Manwë makes me socialise with; according to him, it is a part of my rehabilitation. The Lord of Airs hopes that one day it will be so complete, that he can cease having me as his slave and free me instead. He has admitted that he is not hopeful though. Still, I cannot complain; life is a million times better under him than it was with Nienna. Next, I felt into Súrion's mind and removed the severity of what Erestor had done and the associated feelings.

The two elves looked at me in admiration. They watched as Súrion felt his eyes and then smiled. “I can see,” he said and grinned. I smiled back so that he thought that I was a nice Maia. “Thank you, My Lord,” he wittered. “You have healed me. You truly are a great person.”

“You may have tomorrow off, to recover from any psychological injuries you might have.” I thought that a day would be enough, especially as I knew he had none because they were healed too.

“Thank you, My Lord, but I seem to feel no ill effect,” he said truthfully; however, I must give the impression that I care about the well being of my staff, so I shook my head.

“I insist,” I said, and walked away to where Nénharma sat. He was still coughing up blood and his breathing made a loud rasping noise; music to my ears. I healed him in much the same way as I did Súrion and gave him the day off also.

“My Lord, I feel a bit redundant,” the healer said. “You are a much better healer than I will ever be and so I wonder what my function is here.”

“You are here to deal with the non-serious afflictions,” I told him. “Besides, I am not always here and sometimes things happen in my absence. You are probably as good a healer as Elrond.” I added the last bit because I felt particularly mischievous. It was not true at all.

“Thank you, My Lord,” the healer said and smiled at me. These elves are so easy.

“Where is Lissësúl?” I asked Súrion.

“He is watching Erestor’s door, My Lord,” he replied.

“Come with me,” I said to him as I walked out of the door.

Súrion and I went to Erestor’s room. We stood outside and Lissësúl gave me a full report. “Are you injured?” I asked.

“I will be fine,” he said. “Erestor uses some strange moves when he is fighting though. We were taken by surprise. He flew through the air and aimed a series of kicks at my face before I could move away.”

Lissësúl’s face was swollen and I suspected that he had some broken bones as it hurt him to talk. I waved my hand and he was healed. “You can have tomorrow off,” I said to him. “I am impressed that in spite of your injuries you decided to stay on guard, all by yourself.”

“My Lord, I would not like to think of what he could do to the rest of the household.” Lissësúl said to me. “I know the door is locked but I would not put anything past him. He seems unnaturally gifted in self-preservation.”

I am extremely pleased with Lissësúl. If Erestor had crept up on Maglor, he could have killed him. Maglor is one of the finest warriors I have come across but even he would be at a loss with Erestor’s new style of fighting. I must ask Manwë about it and see what he makes of it.

I unlocked the door and told the two elves not to enter the room with me. I expected Erestor to try and attack me and so I was on my guard. Rather predictably, as soon as I opened the door, his feet were at the level of my face ready to kick. I was too quick for him and waved my hand. He froze and crashed to the floor with a heavy thud. His foot had been an eyelash width away from my face.

A further wave of my hand saw Erestor floating over to his bed. He was about five foot above it when I let him drop onto it. He let out a squeak, which is about all he was capable of doing, as he was to all intents, quite paralysed. It was a yelp of pain and I found it most satisfying.

I loomed over him; he looked angry and scared. “Erestor,” I said and gave him the smile that I reserved for all of my victims on Middle-earth, to let them know when all hope is lost. “You have seriously injured three of my staff; therefore you will be punished. Tomorrow you will be stripped and chained to a pole on the beach. All the staff will be there to see your punishment and I am sure they will feel vindicated when I whip you to within an inch of your life. That will happen tomorrow, so that you can spend all night in dread anticipation of what is to come.”

I smiled and Erestor tried to move, but he could not. “You will stay like that until tomorrow,” I smirked and then went out of the door.

*****

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